Nabalus altissimus (L.) Hook.
Prenanthes altissima L. var. cinnamomea Fernald
Prenanthes altissima L. Tall white lettuce, rattlesnake root
Tall white lettuce is a North American native. It prefers moist habitats, and mountainsides, forests, and woodlands. Plants: A stout central stem is glabrous, light green to mottled purple to purple, and 12-79" (30-200 cm) tall. Much smaller green side branches support a few leaves and the flowers. Leaves: Alternate, 1½-7" (4-17 cm) around, and hairless. Torn leaves produce a white latex. Leaf shapes are highly variable: triangular, heart-shaped, 3-5 lobed, with a couple of coarse teeth or smooth-edges. Lower leaves have longer stems (petioles), and they are winged. Flowers: Most members of the aster family are composite flowers, meaning they have both ray and disk florets. This species, however, has only ray flowers. Each flower is tubular, downward-hanging, with 5 petals, cream tinged with green to straw yellow in color. Flowers are ¾" (1.9 cm) long × ½" (1.3 cm) around, and emerging from the center of each about ½" (1.3 cm) are several stamens. Flowers appear from August to November. Fruits: Fruits (if you want to get technical, they are called cypselae for plants in the aster family) are ⅛-³/₁₆" (3.5-6 mm) long, and tan to brown, with 8-11 ribs. Edibility: Very young basal leaves are edible. Online References:
Nametheplant.net (Native & Naturalized Plants of the Carolinas and Georgia) References:
7/31/2012 · Bemis Rd Conservation Area, Pepperell, Massachusetts 8/19/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton, Massachusetts 8/24/2023 · Morse Mountain, Phippsburg, Maine 9/26/2010 · Brooks Woodland Preserve, Swift River Tract, Petersham, Massachusetts Nabalus altissimus (L.) Hook. Prenanthes altissima L. var. cinnamomea Fernald
Prenanthes altissima description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 5 Sep 2023. © FloraFinder.org. All rights reserved. |
8/19/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton, Massachusetts 9/26/2010 · Brooks Woodland Preserve, Swift River Tract, Petersham, Massachusetts 7/31/2012 · Bemis Rd Conservation Area, Pepperell, Massachusetts 8/19/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton, Massachusetts 8/24/2023 · Morse Mountain, Phippsburg, Maine 8/19/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton, Massachusetts 9/26/2010 · Brooks Woodland Preserve, Swift River Tract, Petersham, Massachusetts Range: Zones 4-8:
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